Michael Jackson - Rock With You (The Reflex Re√ision) *FREE DL*

I'm starting the weekend massively overexcited by the news that The Reflex has finally made his absolutely killer Re√ision of MJ's 'Rock With You' available for free download via Soundcloud.



The track first emerged following a chance meeting between The Reflex and Gilles Peterson through DJ Day, who mentioned to Gilles that he had an edit of 'Rock With You' and that he'd 'done a little thing to it'. Understatement of the year probably.

The Reflex is famed for taking the master stems and re-imagining the studio recordings for a new generation. And this has to be his finest effort to-date, stripping the 1979 original back to bring greater emphasis on the timeless vocal, Rhodes melody, rhythm guitar and orchestral section, as well as beefing up the classic disco drum pattern.

Unfortunately, the only omission from this version is the intro as played by Gilles on Radio 6, which featured an original guide vocal for Michael as sang by its writer and former member of Heatwave, Rod Temperton. Still, this has to be one of the greatest edits of one of the greatest soul/disco records of all time. Simply brilliant.

Wired Review - June 2013

I love Wired. I've been working closely with Kate and Michael for a number of years and there's no doubt it's been the most rewarding experience of all my years DJing and tinkering away on the London music scene.

So again I was totally gutted not to witness another clearly fantastic Wired show (logistically a bit difficult when you're 13,000 miles away!). But thanks to the wonders of the interwang, I can still keep in touch with the guys and the performances, and it sounds like June 2013 was another killer show. And in true keeping with the monthly musical theme, this month Kichael decided to focus on acoustic, vocal jams.

Check the wicked Ruth Anne who flew in from L.A. just for the show to perform her incredible acoustic mash-up of Robin S' 'Show Me Love' and Lauryn Hill's 'Doo Wop'. Sickness.



Then we had the incredible northern talent in the shape of JP Cooper with more acoustic gold on 'Whenever You Hold Me', a very personal story of unrequited love...



And last, but by no means least, one of my most favourite singer/songwriters in the whole world - the one and only Obenewa. Having been tipped for big things by the likes of Gilles Peterson, the lovely lady simply goes from strength to strength on this live performance, airing for the first time brand new material from her forthcoming EP, 'B'.

Check the video for the interview, but it's worth mentioning that Obenewa wrote 'The Answer' (along with the rest of the EP inclusions) in just five days, with just three days in the studio to record them. Impressive indeed!

From the interview, it sounds like Obenewa has referenced a range of styles and influences on this latest release, so I'm mega excited to hear the whole record. Obenewa has promised to send it to me while it's still hot off the press, so watch this space.



Again, gutted not to have been there. But that said, there's a chance I'll be popping my speccy face up at August's show. Hoorah!

Coming up, apparently a certain tinker named Shakka did a Wired-supported EP release this week. Green. With. Envy. More on that soon...

Scrimshire - Bight (Wah Wah 45s)

I’ve spent endless hours absorbing so much music over the years across every genre imaginable, yet I can still list on one hand the number of artists that truly embody the spirit of my current undertaking – the artists that make me Stop, Look and Listen – the musicians that take me to another world all their own, that capture, captivate and inspire me to the point of wanting to absorb every note and hang on every word. For anyone that knows me, you’ll know that Adam Scrimshire is one of those artists.

I first heard Scrimshire’s material during a period when, amidst a flood of increasingly nonspecific deep house, I was seeking refuge for the soul. For me that came in the form of ‘Along Came The Devil One Night’, Adam’s first album and a personal epiphany, driving me to broaden my listening horizons and find new music that still touched the heart and soothed the soul. It’s much the reason I’m writing this now – it offered hope in what seemed an otherwise emotionless universe of digital generica.



On this, Adam’s third album, that theme thankfully continues. Barriers are broken and boundaries breached, the EP referencing a multitude of styles and genres with trademark guitar and funked accordion bringing the whole piece together. It plays like a very personal musical journey with a wholly honest and unique vibe banishing any hint of cliché. It’s a coming-of age story that I can only imagine Scrimshire never envisaged producing. And that’s what’s so captivating – it feels like music written from the heart without promise, predetermination or purpose. For someone experiencing tussles of the heart and mind having moved to the other side of the world, it connects.



Whilst I’d usually rattle something off about the standout tracks, this is an album that has been rarely curated as exactly such. It’s a performance to be enjoyed and embraced on joyful rinse and repeat. To quote Gilles Peterson, ‘contender for album of the year’. Enough said.

'Bight' is out on 27th May via Wah Wah 45s. | wahwah45s.com | scrimshire.com

In the build-up to the launch, Adam is releasing a number of 'postcards', videos set to album teasers that give a glimpse into the destinations the record is themed around - check the first one above. Follow @scrimshire on Twitter to keep up-to-date on new postcards in the coming weeks.

Bukky Leo & Black Egypt - Anarchy (Agogo)

Been listening to this for the last few days and just can’t get enough of it.

Gorgeous afro-jazz rhythms offer some much needed relief from the autumn gloom, with every track drenched in a shimmering summery glaze. The vocals are sublime and the solo brass sections are nothing short of heavenly, with the mixdown on every track absolutely flawless. It's just hard to believe that the album was written in a Battersea studio so recently - the warmth and energy of the record could almost be a live recording from the 80s such is the timeless structure of every composition.

Inspiring rhythms and infectious hooks are aplenty on ‘Anarchy’, with ‘Skeleton’ clearly the lead track,  a fantastic Gilles Peterson mix coming as part of the package. My real pick are the chord progressions on 'Mans Dialema' - to borrow a typically Welsh phrase: lush.

A superb album well worthy of repeated listens – it’ll put a spring back in your step, I assure you.

Bukky Leo & Black Egypt – Anarchy is available via Agogo from 26th October. Check the preview.